The Boobing Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Boobing Podcast
The Boobing Podcast - From breastfeeding disaster to exclusively boobing it. The Boobing Podcast is your zero-filter account of breastfeeding woes, triumphs, and more. I am your host, Melissa Wait, a mum who has been there and overcome just about every obstacle thrown at me while breastfeeding, I went onto breastfeed for almost two years. Every episode welcomes an expert to explain the medical and emotional nitty gritty of why things go wrong and what we can do about it. 88% of Australian mums face challenges breastfeeding – that is a crazy stat! The Boobing Podcast wants to normalise talking about and working through breastfeeding issues. If 88% of us are having trouble, we need real help, guidance, and sometimes a hug, laugh, or a shoulder to cry on!
Caity Robertson @Living.the.abundant.way, is a mum to an almost two-year-old little boy who was diagnosed with a cleft lip at the 20 week scan and was born with a double cleft palates and left cleft lip. Because of this birth defect, she was unable to breastfeed her son. Her story is about a whole other world of breastfeeding grief and disappointment and her successful 12 month pumping journey.
In this episode:
She gets raw and real about the diagnosis and what it meant for feeding her baby. And reveals the moment of disappointment at birth knowing her breastfeeding journey was over before it began.
Caity talks about her pumping declaration and the online support crew she surrounded herself with as a pumping mum.
Why she highly recommends antenatal expressing, and why she has a problem with ‘fed is best.’
What it’s like being a mum to a baby with a cleft palate and the surgeries that followed for her little boy.
And we finish on a heartfelt story about donating her milk that had us both in tears!
To reach out to Caity for pumping tips she’s happy to receive your DM’s on Instagram at @Living.The.Abundant.Way
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Heidi Anderson, absolute PR queen and coach, mum to Memphis and all-around fearless female, she is also one of the creators behind the My Mothers Group Instagram, an amazing platform for mums needing a support network during the pandemic. She teaches women on the daily to be memorable in their marketing while also being their true and authentic selves, to live their lives with ‘champagne confidence.’
In this episode:
- Heidi Anderson gets raw with her personal breastfeeding journey. When her son Memphis was born via emergency C-section she reveals what it was like visiting him in neo-natal and how her breastfeeding got off to a rocky start.
- She relives her resistance to doctors wanting to put her newborn on formula and how she felt about being separated from her baby in the hospital.
- How breastfeeding challenges lead to really butting heads with her partner
- How breastfeeding is one of the hardest things she’s ever done – she wants mums to know it can be a wild ride and to reach out for help during what can be a lonely time.
- The beautiful connection she shared with her son Memphis while breastfeeding and how devastated she was when he self-weaned.
- AND TWO personal announcements are dropped by me in this episode, including my unconventional weaning approach AND another little surprise.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_heidianderson
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, we dive into what it’s like for breastfeeding (or pumping) mothers returning to work.
We are joined by Larissa Waters, Queensland's first Greens Senator and co-deputy leader of the Australian Greens party. Larissa made Australian history in 2017 by being the first woman to breastfeed on the floor of Federal Parliament, all while making a motion! (The very definition of multi tasking!) Her daughter, Alia, was only two months old at the time.
In this episode:
-What it was like for Larissa to juggle breastfeeding and work
-What a workplace can do to support breastfeeding (or pumping) mums
-The pushback Larissa encountered whilst breastfeeding at work
-The commodification of women's bodies
-Larissa’s advice for women looking to get in Parliament (and why she thinks it’s so important that they do)
Larissa Waters is the Greens Senator for Queensland. Larissa is passionate about acting on global warming, job-rich clean energy, protecting our environment, creating a fairer society and achieving gender equality. To learn more, you can check out her website. And to see her history making breastfeed, click here.
Resources on breastfeeding and returning to work:
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Raising Children, The Australian Parenting Website
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, we get into the real and painful world of nipple trauma (also known as nipple damage) that many women experience while breastfeeding. I’m joined by midwife (and friend) Georgina Smelt of @NurturedByMidwifery. We get into what can cause it, how to cope, and ways you can heal. It’s a must listen for all breastfeeding mums and mums-to-be who are considering breastfeeding!
In this episode:
- What is a tongue tie and how can it impact breastfeeding
- What can cause nipple pain, trauma or damage
- Why a good attachment is key (and what can happen without it)
- How stress and hormones impact breastfeeding
- Nipple first aid: what steps you can take to help your nipples recover if you experience trauma (hint: it includes some liquid gold)
- The pros and cons of nipple shields
- The one hugely important thing you can do to help prevent nipple trauma
Georgina Smelt is a Registered/Endorsed Midwife who has been practicing midwifery for nine years. She has practiced across the entire continuum of midwifery, including three years in a midwifery group practice model of care. She is also a wife and mum to a toddler, with twins on the way! Follow her on instagram @nuturedbymidwifery to learn more about her private midwife offering.
Resources mentioned:
Australian Breastfeeding Association https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au (1800 686 268)
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In part two, I wrap up with Rach Waia of Tiny Hearts Education. In this episode, Rach gets deeply personal as she shares her breastfeeding journey with her youngest son, Ziggi and how she was having intrusive thoughts.
In this episode:
- Boosting supply with supplements – what worked and what didn’t
- Why it’s so important to seek support when you experience sudden and unusual thoughts/changes to your mental health, especially as a new mum
- The trials, tribulations, and wins of mixed feeding
- Seeking out your circle of expert guidance (and tuning out the noise)
Rach Waia is a wife, mother of three boys, and half of Tiny Hearts Education. Tiny Hearts Education’s mission is to help parents/caregivers navigate their journey with confidence. Tiny Hearts offers courses in baby first aid and birth prep, as well as a wide range of first aid products.
https://www.tinyheartseducation.com/
Instagram: @TinyHeartsEducation
We want to hear from you! Connect with us on Instagram @TheBoobingPodcast
*Note: This episode contains content that describes harming thoughts. This may be triggering to some.
Postpartum Mental Health Resources:
- PANDA — 1300 726 306
- Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby — 1800 882 436
- Gidget Foundation Australia
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out episode four (part one) where we dive into Rach’s experiences breastfeeding her two older children. Take a listen
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In part one of a two part series, I chat with Rach Waia of Tiny Hearts Education about her breastfeeding journey. She opens up about the unique and challenging experiences she faced breastfeeding each of her three sons.
In this episode:
- Why it’s so important to have a support system in place (and when to reach out for expert help)
- Being okay with talking openly about your breastfeeding struggles
- The importance of addressing breastfeeding trauma for mum
- Breast augmentation and its potential impact on breastfeeding
- How husbands/partners can play a role in your feeding journey (the good and the annoying!)
Rach Waia is a wife, mother of three boys, and half of Tiny Hearts Education. Tiny Hearts Education’s mission is to help parents/caregivers navigate their journey with confidence. Tiny Hearts offers courses in baby first aid and birth prep, as well as a wide range of first aid products.
https://www.tinyheartseducation.com/
Instagram: @TinyHeartsEducation
Connect with us on Instagram @TheBoobing Podcast
88% of Australian mums face challenges breastfeeding! 88%! We want to change that stat. If you like what you heard today, please rate, review, and share “The Boobing Podcast” on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. Together we can help educate and empower mums (& partners) on their breastfeeding journey.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Midwife Emma Ireland
This episode is all about initiating that first feed and why skin to skin is the ultimate breastfeeding reset for you and your baby.
Emma Ireland is a midwife of nine years, has delivered hundreds of babies at the Lyell McEwin Hospital in South Australia. She is also a close friend after we formed part of an online mother’s group when COVID-19 hit early on during our maternity leave.
In this episode:
Who a midwife goes to when they need help with breastfeeding
Why the first hour of skin to skin is so important, and how Dad can also get involved
How long on average it takes for a baby to attach to the breast for the first feed
How to set yourself up for good milk supply in the first 36-48 hours
All the benefits of breastfeeding
Why every woman who gives birth is a warrior
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Midwife Cath joins The Boobing Podcast as the first guest!
A midwife of 45 years, she has delivered thousands of babies, written two books The First Six Weeks and After the First Six Weeks, and helps families on everything from feeding behaviour, routines and sleeping.
In this episode:
We talk about developing a breastfeeding plan whilst your pregnant
Why she prefers to keep the baby wrapped during feeds
How she works with mothers to boost their breastfeeding confidence
Why getting help early can save your breastfeeding experience
The reason you shouldn’t justify feeding your baby to sleep to others
And of course her famous B, B, B routine – Bath, Breast/Bottle, Bed.
*Midwife Cath also offers amazing, free webinars on breastfeeding, and many other topics too at TummyTalks.com.au
**Or to book an appointment with Midwife Cath or buy her books head to her website: https://midwifecathsvillage.com.au/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Boobing Podcast - From breastfeeding disaster to exclusively boobing it.
The Boobing Podcast is your zero-filter account of breastfeeding woes, triumphs, and more. I am your host, Melissa Wait, a mum who has been there and overcome just about every obstacle thrown at me while breastfeeding, I went onto feed for almost two years. Every episode welcomes an expert to explain the medical and emotional nitty gritty of why things go wrong and what we can do about it. 88% of Australian mums face challenges breastfeeding – that is a crazy stat! The Boobing Podcast wants to normalise talking about and working through breastfeeding issues. If 88% of us are having trouble, we need real help, guidance, and sometimes a hug, laugh, or a shoulder to cry on!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.